Synopsis

When wedding planner Kelsey McKenna goes to the Wine Country Wedding Faire, the last thing she expects to do is take on new clients. After all, she’s just there to help out her friend Brody and maybe score some free cupcakes. But when a young couple in a pinch asks for her help, she just can’t say no.

There’s only one problem: they’d been working with Babs Norton, the self-proclaimed Queen of Wine Country Weddings—and things did not end well. Kelsey wants to make sure there are no hard feelings, but unfortunately she never gets the chance. When she goes to Babs’ office, she finds the wedding planner dead on the floor.

Babs’ high-strung assistant Stefan knows exactly who killed Babs: Kelsey. At least, that’s what he very publicly accuses her of at Babs’ funeral. When Kelsey decides to do a little sleuthing to clear her name, she uncovers a myriad of secrets and lies. And when a second wedding planner is attacked, Kelsey begins to wonder if she might be next.

Set against the stunning backdrop of California wine country, Marla Cooper’s Dying on the Vine is a mystery brimming with gossip, wine, and, of course…murder.

About The Author

As a freelance writer, MARLA COOPER has written all sorts of things, from advertising copy to travel guidebooks to the occasional haiku. But it was while ghostwriting a nonfiction guide to destination weddings that she found inspiration for her current series starring destination wedding planner Kelsey McKenna. Originally hailing from Texas, Marla lives in Oakland, California, with her husband and her polydactyl tuxedo cat.

I really enjoyed the story and thought the author did an amazing job of developing her characters. I loved the setting of a winery and it was easy to picture it with the authors vivid description. What better place to have a wedding then at a beautiful winery. The landscape is gorgeous, the main room is big and perfect for large crowds. It makes a picturesque wedding that any bride would love.

Kelsey is a wonderful wedding planner and has many clients. Of course in the wedding planning business there are many to choose from. Babs Norton seems to be the queen when it comes to being a wedding planner. She thinks she knows everything about Napa Valley and helps couples have the most exquisite weddings imaginable. Her assistant Stefan is kinda stuffy and I thought he was quite jealous of Babs. When Stefan accuses Kelsey of stealing clients the stage is set for disaster.

When Kelsey goes to see Babs at her office she is in for a shock. She finds Babs laying on the floor. With her quick thinking she calls 911. To me this is where the story really starts taking off. Of course the police suspect Kelsey and she is set to proof her innocence. I didn't care for the detectives at all. They seemed ready to throw Kelsey in jail and throw away the key.

The story has many twists that keep readers glued to the book. I loved Laurel who is Kelsey's assistant. She has spunk and is ready to play detective to help Kelsey out. The story takes us from wine country to quaint little Inns to a majestic house that all play an intricate part in the cleverly written story. I could actually feel my heart beating a little faster as more suspects and victims start to turn up. I love when an author is able to keep the identity of the killer hard to figure out. The book has lots of mystery and unsavory characters that take readers on a journey that lead to an exciting and unexpected ending. I highly recommend you grab this book and get ready for a exhilarating look into the world of wedding planners.

I received a copy of this book from Great Escapes Book Tours. The review is my own opinion.